Ports of Call

Looking for a welcoming Lake Michigan destination that’s got sandy beaches, an up-to-date marina, plenty to see, do, shop, eat and sip within a short walk of the dock — plus natural and historical wonders to explore? There’s an app for that.

When a Taiwanese family of six showed up at the Manistique visitor information center in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Alan Barr was both blown away and gratified to know that his team’s decision to create a Discover Manistique mobile app was a good one. Barr, CEO and executive directo...

If your idea of a boater’s paradise includes secret anchorages, spectacular scenery and friendly locals, be sure to add Ontario’s Manitoulin Island and North Channel to your nautical bucket list.

When you cruise the waters of Canada’s North Channel — an Ontario waterway widely considered one of the world’s best freshwater boating destinations — Manitoulin Island is your constant companion.
Guarding this pristine passage from the winds and waves of Lake Huron, M...

In World War II, Whitby, Ontario, was a training base for secret agents. Today, it continues to fly under the radar as one of the best-kept secrets on the Great Lakes.

It’s only fitting that the pretty town of Whitby, Ontario, should enjoy a strong connection to water. Located on the north shore of Lake Ontario some 23 miles east of Toronto, Whitby is named after the English village of Whitby, home to the legendary Captain James Cook who went on to map most ...

List the ingredients for a quintessential beach vacation and chances are Benzie County, Michigan, has them covered: Sand perfect for lounging or strolls, rivers, festivals, trails, fresh-caught fish, craft beer — and more.

For some 38 years, Ronn Beyette has worked at or around the entrance to the Frankfort, Michigan, harbor as a charter fishing captain, yacht captain and harbormaster. He’s seen more than a thousand sunsets over the Frankfort breakwater lighthouse, caught steelhead and trout, and watched bald ea...

For Paul Hampton and his wife, Lydia, summer doesn’t get much better than cruising on Lake Huron or chilling dockside aboard their 23-foot Sea Ray at the Lexington marina, just 90 minutes from their metro Detroit home.
In this boating haven on Michigan’s eastern shore, stress fad...

With great food, diverse neighborhoods, cultural attractions, memorable sunsets and two waterfronts — open and endless Lake Erie or the urban and industrialized Cuyahoga River — for boaters to explore, Cleveland is a cool destination.

Jim Lee is an Akron, Ohio-based IT consultant who has sailed his Ericson 30 Plus into every port on Lake Erie, but the one view that never fails to thrill him is Cleveland’s skyline.
“About 30 miles out on the lake, you start to see buildings poking up on the horizon,” Lee ...

A tale of three cities, five lakes and two rivers in Muskegon County, Michigan. The cities of Muskegon, Whitehall and Montague offer first-rate fishing, waterfront restaurants, boutique shops and a charming mix of old and new.

Seventeen years ago, many people thought Ted Fricano was, as he describes it, “crazy” when he decided to transform a building slated for demolition in Muskegon into a 250-seat pizzeria.
But Fricano’s Pizza was ahead of the curve and a driving factor in the revitalization of...

A multi-faceted personality has blessed Toronto, Ontario, with an abundance of colorful nicknames. But all it takes is a single visit to leave boaters calling it their own slice of waterfront heaven.

Hogtown. The Six. Hollywood North. YYZ. Toronto has always been a city known for its nicknames, each of which reflects a different side of Canada’s largest metropolitan area. Hogtown is a nod to Toronto’s agricultural past, when its stockyards shipped maple-smoked bacon to markets all ov...

Where bay and river meet The two states and towns are divided by the Menominee River, which forms from the confluence of the Brule and Michigamme Rivers northwest of Iron Mountain, Michigan. This is a good fishing area that’s known for clean water and — as the folks in the Welcome Center...